#I just feel like it kind of betrays a lack of trust in the music

[yubnubforhire]

It’s kind of wild coming into the kpop fandom after spending most of my life only following western artists because the way that there is Always Content Coming Out is truly overwhelming sometimes I mean I spent TEN human years not seeing Stromae’s face except for a few interviews here and there and then I still dropped over $100 to see him when he came to the US and people still go to Lauryn Hill concerts all the fucking time despite the fact that she is often late or Simply Not There and yet the kpop industry thinks if they don’t keep releasing something new every few days then they will lose fans’ attentions and therefore sales

[midnightmah07]

Template can be found here.

Background & Personality:

Maisie is sweet, energetic, kind and empathetic, some people would even describe her as naive... Which couldn't be farther from the truth. She's born into a wealthy family that taught her and her sister everything there is to know about music and art, and just like her older sister, she pursued a music career at an early age, being known for her angelic voice. Still, despite her sweet personality and loving persona, Maisie can be very feisty to those who test her patience and wrong her or her loved ones; as she puts it: "my good opinion once lost is lost forever", which makes her susceptible to holding grudges.

Maisie is the youngest of two sisters, having an 11 year age gap with her oldest sister, and she's the aunt of Grace — @4necdote's OC. Grace and her family lost their fortune for a few years due to her sister's music producer taking advantage of them; during this time, Maisie did her best to support and help her family in every way, shape and form, working herself to the bone despite her young age to make sure they were safe and sound. Once her sister fell in love with a good man and got her fortune back, Maisie remembered her childhood dream of falling in love and building her own family, her own romantic fantasies that were once lost and locked deep into her subconscious due to what happened to her family came flooding back into her heart after this. Still, despite this, the damage of what happened to her sister made Maisie more wary of people in general, making her too difficult to please and really picky when it comes to her romantic partners, being scared of opening her heart to most people that weren't her family.

Fun facts: Maisie is a jazz singer, and despite being well-known, she's less famous than her older sister, who's an opera singer; Maisie is often mistaken for being much younger than she actually is, and it's one of her insecurities; Maisie has only had 1 boyfriend despite her age, due to her unrealistic standards, and her first kiss was awful and she prefers to not talk about it please; she's albino

Basic info:

Height: 160cm

Age: 25

Nicknames: Mai (by friends and family), Whiskers and Ribbons (by Fellow)

Birthday: December 11th

Dominant hand: left

Favorite food: sole meunière

Occupation: singer

Hobbies: playing the piano, painting

Homeland: Shaftlands

Unique Magic: [to be added]

Relationships:

Grace ( @4necdote's OC): Maisie is Grace's aunt, but due to their small age gap, Maisie and Grace feel more like two sisters. They're very fond of each other, especially because of the period of time where Maisie had to take care of her family; Grace is often referred to as Maisie's favorite nephew, and Grace is always the one to receive Maisie's clothes when she needs to get rid of her old ones. Maisie usually tries to give Grace advice, and despite her lack of experience, she's usually wonderful at helping Grace with her romantic life, helping her realize her feelings towards Floyd once she complained about the boy to her aunt.

♡ Fellow Honest: because I still need to know more about Fellow due to not knowing the full story of Playful Land, I can't go into detail about their story, however! Fellow and Maisie are exes, him being the only boyfriend she's ever had. His playful demeanor and charming persona managed to sweep her off her feet, and Fellow genuinely fell for Maisie as well... But due to issues relating to Fellow's life, Fellow betrayed her trust and they broke up, but both of them still have strong feelings towards each other.

Gidel: Maisie had, and still has, a soft spot towards Gidel. She sees him as a sweet and wonderful boy, and often encourages him to seek his dreams and grow as a person. Gidel clings to her and views her as an older sister, and because of this he was deeply hurt once they had to part ways due to Fellow and Maisie's breakup.

Vil Schoenheit: after learning he's Grace's housewarden, Maisie keeps an eye out for him in order to know if he treats her nephew well, and upon learning about his personality and how he treats others, Maisie is very pleased with him, even taking an interest in his work and complimenting his acting and singing in the times she manages to see him.

Floyd Leech: Maisie finds Floyd... Interesting, to say the least. Despite this, she can see how much he cares for and loves her nephew, and because of that she gives him his full support, often helping him out and making ways for them to spend time together, much to Grace's dismay.

Sam: Maisie and Sam are childhood friends. They went to school around the same time, and Maisie was a victim of many of Sam's tricks and schemes — although they were all made with light hearted intentions. Although they went to different schools, they saw each other rather frequently and keep in touch even today, Sam sometimes attending her shows and Maisie making sure to advertise his business whenever she can.

Crewel: Maisie met him when she grew up through Sam, and they hit it off right from the get go. They usually talk about fashion together and often shop together when they want to catch up, and at some point, Crewel tried making attempts to flirt with her. Unfortunately, due to still having feelings towards Fellow, Maisie wasn't able to reciprocate, so their relationship is purely platonic, however Crewel wouldn't mind taking her on a date if she ever decided to give him the opportunity.

Character reference:

[drvirgus]

Why You?

Idol! Yunjin X Idol! Reader X Idol! Chaewon

Description: What if the first official lesbian in the K-pop industry has to fake date her biggest school enemy? What if Y/n is already in a relationship, and it happens to be with one of the Member of Yunjin?

Warnings: kind of Cheating? Lots of Communication lack, strong language. Kys jokes

Chapter: 7 minutes (fully-written)

Masterlist

———————————————————————————

"Do you remember? Back then," Yunjin began softly. The music muffled by the closed door. We sat facing each other, Yunjin leaning against the bathtub while I leaned against the wall. My legs crossed as my hands played with each other on my legs. Neither of us had said anything so far, but it hadn't been long since we were locked in this room.

"Hm?" I asked, looking at the older woman. A slight laugh escaped her throat as she looked at me. She ran her hand through her open and long hair. "When you became a rumor in the schoolyard," Yunjin said, lightly laughing. "You scared everyone, and apparently, a teacher even quit because of you. But you didn't give a damn," she added, smiling a bit. Her gaze lowered to the floor. "Meanwhile, both of us used to sneak into the school at night to scare the security guard."

I chuckled as my eyebrows raised, "Please. You were way too scared. You stuck to me like gum. Thanks to you, I'm deaf now," I replied, making Yunjin look back at me. A smirk appeared on my face as I saw her cheeks blush slightly.

"You've always been hard of hearing," she muttered, and I asked, not hearing her well, "What?" This made her laugh again as she pointed at me with her finger, "See?"

Again, a silence settled between us. Everything felt quite forced. These would probably be the worst 7 minutes of my life.

Sighing, I leaned my head back against the wall and closed my eyes. I was already quite drunk, which I only noticed because everything was spinning, and my vision was slightly blurred.

"Can I ask you something?" Yunjin said again. My eyes lifted from my fingers, looking at the woman by the tub. I licked my lips once, unsure if I should allow her to ask me that question. Sighing, I finally nodded my head.

How could I say no when she looked at me so helplessly?

"Why do you hate me?" she asked, causing my eyebrows to rise once again. "I've already answered that," I replied, prompting Yunjin to shake her head. I watched as she slowly stood up from her seat and moved towards me. "That can't be all," she said, mockingly laughing, "Just because of that bitch?" she spat out between gritted teeth.

Yunjin stood right in front of me, and my eyes narrowed. I didn't like it when someone stood while I sat. It made me feel small, almost fragile. Sighing, I stood up as well, which seemed to surprise Yunjin. My eyes still narrowed as I looked at the taller woman in front of me.

"It's not about who I was with," I started, raising my hand as I saw Yunjin trying to interrupt, "It's about you betraying my trust," I concluded my sentence, frustrating Yunjin, who sighed in frustration. Her jaw tensed as her hand ran through her hair again, making it appear even more disheveled.

"I did it for you," she replied a bit louder. My forehead wrinkled, and a mocking laugh escaped my throat, which she seemed to dislike. I rolled my eyes, feeling her hand on my shoulder pushing me against the wall.

"I did it for you. Really," she said as she removed her hand from my shoulder. Her eyes wider than usual. I took several deep breaths. "For what? Tell me, what exactly did it bring me?" I asked, but I didn't move an inch. My eyes fixed on the older person in front of me.

Yunjin swallowed. Her eyes jumped from my left eye to my right. "She... abused you. She took advantage of you," Yunjin answered, only causing my eyes to roll once again. I saw Yunjin reflexively, especially since she used to do it often back then, trying to push me again. This time, however, I managed to grab her wrist to prevent her from repeating that action.

Yunjin's mouth opened, and her eyes shifted from my hand on her wrist back to my eyes. "I was 18. I was legal," I said, trying to calm the turmoil in my stomach. "Those are just excuses," I replied, sighing, attempting to push away the anger I felt towards her as I let go of the older woman's wrist. Her mouth still hung open as she looked at me.

"Yunjin," I said now, urging her to just tell me the truth. "Why did you do this shit?" I felt my hand twitch, and I balled it into a fist, loosening it shortly after. The anger I felt towards her was toxic. A toxic feeling that I never wanted to experience again.

"She..." Yunjin began. My eyes were locked onto hers, but hers seemed to be looking past me. Her face grew redder and redder, and she turned her head to the side. "She took you from me! As if I would just stand there and do nothing!"

The door opened, and I saw Minji there. Her eyebrows raised. "Uh... the 7 minutes are over," the younger one said somewhat awkwardly. Her forehead furrowed as she saw how close Yunjin and I were. This whole situation probably looked very different to her. I sighed, pushed Yunjin away from me, and left the bathroom.

Yunjin was manipulative. I always knew that. She was passive-aggressive, manipulative, and just plain malicious.

But she was also honest, loyal, and just... good.

Unfortunately, I never knew which side of her I was dealing with.

Annoyed by the entire conversation, I went to Chaewon with a furrowed brow. She looked up at me with a smile, but it disappeared when she saw my face. Every single one of them was looking at me, almost scrutinizing me. I pulled my girlfriend up by the wrist. I looked deep into her eyes. "Come," I whispered, just taking her with me into my room.

It didn’t take long for our lips to meet, and our clothes to meet the floor.

[gl00mura1nk]

Cheslock (Black Butler) headcanons just because I can (project onto characters)

He’s the kid literally everyone hated in elementary/middle school for absolutely no reason

If he was a shade of purple he’d be a really dark, inky purple (you know when you splatter out black ink and it looks purple?)

Cat person (obviously, I mean, he looks like a cat)

Cheslock probably sits like a limp anchovy (see below) because he is hunched over sheet music studying it or a piano CONSISTENTLY

I mean, look, that’s artist posture if ever I’ve seen it.

He probably has ADHD (trust)

Also, that leg bouncing thing, he probably does it all the time

Favorite food: Blackberry tarts

Least favorite food: Licorice of any sort (ate too much and spoiled the candy as a whole)

I have a lack of ideas about where Cheslock’s scar came from other than edgy parent backstory which I refuse to write because it’s so unoriginal but what if it’s from getting slashed with some kind of musical saw?

ALSO I BET HE PLAYS HIS VIOLIN ON THE ROOF OF THE DORM SOMETIMES WHICH IS REALLY COOL BUT DON’T TRY IT AT HOME

Lets the dahlias from his coat pocket wilt in a jar on his windowsill

I am trying so, so hard not to spoil anything from the blue cult arc. We must stay focused, comrades

Big sibling :)

Reckless with himself, but careful to others (except Orphans Who Shall Not Be Named and people from other houses/who betrayed him)

Also, I have a strange feeling that he’s not from a rich family? He probably got into Weston on a scholarship (AGAIN IT IS SO HARD TO PROVE THIS WITHOUT SPOILING STUFF. I AM SWEATING.)

Cheslock has a strong sense of justice, like if someone were to wrong him or his friends, he’d either seek it himself or wait for justice to be served on its own.

Guys this is your Threatening Neutral Reminder to READ THE MANGA SO I CAN TALK ABOUT IT

He is the type to drag someone to the nurse if they were hurt and wouldn’t go themself.

”I’m not THAT hurt-“ “No, c’mon, y’re going.” *pulls shirt collar*

Sometimes just screams randomly in his room

GUYS I LIKE WRITING THESE SHOULD I MAKE A PART 2?

[ravenbloodshot]

B1a4 jinyoung personality reading

He may run and go on jogs often (I saw a scene of him running in the cold, his breath fogging out, his heart racing rhythmically and a mountain watching from a distance)

That was kind of poetic. He may be a writer (ik he's a producer so he may write in his free time even with him being an actor, he probably still writes)

He loves the monsoon season, likes rain. Likely gets a lot of musical inspiration from watching rain pour

He has some familial trauma and doesn't have a good relationship with his parents (poor scorpios, this tends to be the case for them). He can fall into the wrong social circles or friend groups due to his wish to be accepted. He's like the kind of person that if he grew up in American hoods could have been led astray by gang activities due to lack of stability at home. He has identity issues

He definitely is loyal to the wrong ppl. Ppl that would betray him, no doubt. He finds it hard to separate himself from ppl that he considers to be like family to him even when they're toxic

He knows how to relinquish control of himself, which could help him destress. I don't know if he's religious or does yoga or something, but I feel as if he meditates or does something that helps in him in relinquishing control of his body.

I'm also getting a vibe that he can be too trusting in others. He puts his life in the hands of others

Okay, so. He's kind of a pervert(good and bad way). In love with the female body and the natural femininity of women. Like the type of guy to be like, "I can't stand guys. We're so dirty"....."But women, they're so soft, clean, and different from us." He really enjoys seeing nudity in others, and he could be someone who watches too much porn. But I feel like he's more so the type to like nude magazines (where women are posing in sensual positions with little to no clothes).

He has quite a high sex drive

He may be afraid of spiders

Also, he wants a big family (lots of kids). May have some type of pregnancy kink

He's obsessed with those who have a sexy image. (I'm telling you guys, the man is a plain lover of women. He's absolutely obsessed with them. It's kind of cute)

He's the male version of a pick me. But he's a good pick me (Is the male version just a simp????)

Sex Therapy by Robin Thicke is a song that fits this reading's energy

[bellestarot]

Kai's Reading

August 09, 2024

Right Now

He's spending more time with his family now. I think for a long time they couldn't meet as often, and that's changed these days. He really wanted this change to happen, and I see him getting closer to his family. At least for now, that's the situation.

He's been feeling a bit stressed trying to stay strong when he just wants to vent. I think he's a very sensitive person, and he's been trying really hard not to let people's comments or actions affect him. He's making an effort, but it's been really hard to pretend everything is okay and that he's strong enough to deal with certain situations.

He might be interested in someone at the moment, but there's some distance between them for some reason. They're not close right now, so he's really holding onto the memories they had together and wishing they could meet again.

He's also leaving behind a connection with a guy he used to consider really close.

I think he was the one who decided to stop being connected to this person, but it wasn't easy for him to make that decision. He spent a lot of time thinking about whether it was really the right choice.

Love Life

He's definitely involved with someone right now, and he doesn't want anyone to find out that he's with this person.

He's doing everything he can to keep it secret, and it seems very private. He kind of manifested this person; I think it was someone he was already interested in before. So, he sort of made a dream come true by being with this specific person.

But this connection isn't very healthy. I think there are a lot of insecurities between them, and they also fight a lot and have many disagreements. They've broken up before but ended up getting back together because he and this person have a lot of love for each other despite the turbulence.

Career

There is someone in a very high position in his company whom he doesn't trust. He thinks this person has toxic behaviors and that the way they treat him is unfair. He feels there is a lack of empathy in how this person acts and speaks to him, but he’s been trying to move on.

He really likes his job, he appreciates making music and being on stage, so he loves that. He's been trying not to let these people and certain bad situations affect him because what he doesn't reveal is that there’s a lot of conflict in his work environment.

There’s a lot of disagreement, and sometimes he feels a bit hopeless, you know? But he's been working with other people, and they are very nice, treating him like family, so that has helped him feel good about his work environment.

Family

He loves his family; I think he is a very family-oriented person. He feels very lucky to have a supportive family base nowadays, and he is very grateful for that. But at the moment, he's been feeling a bit annoyed with an older family member.

He loves this person very much, but something happened that bothered him. But overall, he loves them and is really excited to see them in person, so he might be visiting his family soon.

He tries his best not to talk about his problems because he keeps a lot inside, but he doesn't share with his family because he doesn't want to burden them with his issues.

Friendships

I think he has had many experiences where he was disappointed by friendships. So these days, he is very cautious about that, but he's been thinking that if he opens up more, maybe good people will come into his life, so he's been putting this mentality into practice because he wants to meet new people.

He might have recently made friends with someone his age, and many people have shown up for him to build these friendships. He still feels a bit upset about a friend he had to leave behind.

He has a lot of difficulty with this issue because whenever he opened up to someone, he was hurt or betrayed by a friend, so he carries a lot of pain about that. But he's been trying to change and move forward, and he has this goal of making new friends.

Future

He is going to become more reserved. For some reason, I see him becoming increasingly discreet about what he does and where he goes. I think he will do his best not to publicize his life and ensure others don't find out what's happening with him, and he will be very strict about that.

I think he will achieve great success in his career in the future, with a lot of satisfaction coming his way. I believe he will become very successful and famous, reaching an even higher level of fame.

He will be working with other people, and I see these partnerships helping him reach this level. The conflicts he has at work will be resolved. I think they will be able to come to agreements, and he will definitely be very happy as a result of all this.

[overwatchfics]

Dance Dance - Junker Queen

A/N: I'm listening to a LOT of Sting tonight and I kind of peg Junkerqueen as the sort of person to play Sting on a date.

It isn't often that Odessa gets to experience peace in her life. To the assassination attempts to dethrone her, she's survived stab wounds, poisoned drinks, and gunshot wounds in places thought lethal. She's spent hours in your infirmary, biting into a piece of thick leather as you cauterize her wound with heated iron. There's few can trust the way she trusts you, there are even fewer she can believe would care for her the way you do, and there is no one she'd rather dance the night away with.

Odessa stands relaxed in a tailored suit (She totally didn't wear to impress you), though her face betrays her in a nervous twitchy pierced lip. Still, she offers her hand to you, in the dune of the desert where the stars shine the brightest, the sands have calmed with the lack of wind, and you stare in awe. The Junker queen shifts awkwardly in her stance, her dance playlist consisting of Sting and Chris Isaac crackles lightly from her boombox Well... what are you waiting for, you ready? Your mouth slides from a neutral position into a warm smile that has Odessa's knees buckle in the slightest. You stand gracefully before taking the queen's hand in your own, dragging her taller figure towards you playfully. You grab her bow tie and pull her down gently to your level, Odessa's freckled face only a smidge away. You gaze into your eyes making a note to lower your voice to a husky level So be it, let's dance. You take the lead, despite being a little more than a head shorter than the queen, but your steps started slow, but punctuated. You notice your partner stumble just the slightest before regaining her composure, her hand tightening on your shoulder as you show her the steps.

Eventually Odessa takes the initiative and steals the lead from you. The calloused hand on your shoulder traces its way down to your waist, and she spins you around. The music picks up, her steps are sharp and in rhythm with the beat. Odessa's red eyes meet yours and a rare, excited smile graces her face, she seems giddy. You meet her expression of happiness with your own, a laugh of joy bubbling to the surface. The queen's smile grows larger as she sweeps you across the plateau the two of you are situated on, Junkertown just a glittering city in the distance. The stars above spin as the two of you dance as one, an inferno of passion under the blanket of stars. The only thing you can feel is the warmth of Odessa's body soaking into yours, you smell the traces of gun oil wafting off of her suit (something she's tried so desperately to be rid of, but you don't mind, it's kind of sexy).

The music starts to die as the end of the playlist nears. Odessa slows her steps before stopping as the last song finishes. Her Ruby eyes meet your before flickering down to your lips, only pausing for your permission. You bring your mouth next to hers Go ahead Dez. The smiled against your cheek before angling her head to kiss you, her piercing grazing just under your lip. Her mouth chases the chill of the night as it presses longingly against yours. You find your back arching as she towers and curls over you, the hand secured on your waist prevents you from falling to the ground. Your hands bury into her long blue tresses, pulling from Odessa, a relieved groan when you undo the braids and weave out the hair ties keeping them in place. Her tongue swipes against your bottom lip, before retracting it all together and pulling from the kiss. Odessa presses her forehead against yours and peppers your face and neck with kisses, enjoying the soft giggles it pulls from you. No matter how busy I get, I will always make time for nights like these love. No one else but the two of us. She stands straight before pulling off her coat (Odessa in suspenders please) and draping it across your shoulders to lock the night's chill away. You wrap it around you before burying your nose in the fabric and inhaling lightly, relaxing at the scent of gun oil and cinnamon bark. Odessa's heart melts at the sight and wraps an arm around you, before leading you to her bike. That was nice, know that I love you, now and forever, as your queen decrees.

A/N: man I'm in fluff mood so badly. This popped into my head and I felt inspired to write it. She came across a little OOC, but you know what, I was in the mood to write it. Hope y'all enjoy some soft JQ crumbs.

[ga-u-1737]

Inherited Guilt: An Idols Fallback

Chapter 1

Fame, it’s something everyone, or mostly everyone wants to have. Either singing, acting, modeling, or writing.

 In General, most people think that being famous is a treat, like the Overnight superstars Velvet and Veneer. Famous and idolized for their music, especially Veneer which a lot of fans adore. Some were evening jealous of how the twins could have everything they wanted and wished for, books written about them, interviewed on live TV, fanart, and just being adored and respected in general.

But not everything is perfect on screen, or radio for that matter. You can’t believe everything  on the internet they say but you also can’t trust what was on TV, sometimes things you would think were okay aren't, 

And Sometimes, the person you thought you would trust or idolize, turns out to be a terrible person

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Velvet, without hesitation, snatched the microphone from Veneer’s hands, gripping it tightly

“Listen up Mount Rageons!” Velvet yelled, all eyes and cameras were pointed toward her, waiting for another announcement.

She took a deep breath, was she really about to do this? She looked at Poppy's glaze, who gave her a gentle nod

Velvet looked at the audience again,  all with curious eyes along with confusion, she couldn’t blame them considering everything happening right now.  She sighed one more time before opening her mouth.

“My brother’s-” She hesitated “My Brother’s a fraud!”

Gasps and mumbling spread around, people’s eyes gazing at Veneer, his eyes at Velvet’s. She could feel his anger and irritation right next to her.

“I-I’m a WHAT!?” He yelled out, she flinched at the sudden outburst but continued to keep on a blank face and a calm mind. 

“He just wanted to be famous, but he lacked talent so he captured a musical pop troll named Queen Poppy” She pointed towards Poppy, who was being held by Branch and Viva. 

“And.” She kept continuing  “He forced me, his twin sister, and his assistant to keep quiet and cooperate with him, we had no choice but to keep quiet.

“It's true, I have proof!” Crimp said, she jumped beside her, holding onto a remote.

“What in the absolute hell are you doin’-” Veneer growled but was interrupted by the TV showing the behind scenes of a day before, with Veneer clenching to the cage Poppy and Branch were in one hand, and holding Velvet’s shirt in another.

“You want this Velvet, I know you do.”

“It’s still wrong, we are not achieving anything by doing this!”

“This is our only way to get what we want, Velvs, whether you want this or not. I'm doing this for both of us!”

“By doing a literal CRIME,!”

Velvet winced in pain as Veneer dropped her on the ground, hard. He walked towards her, a cold look in his eyes.  

“Like I said…this is the only way for us to get what we wanted, if you decide to do anything stupid, you're gonna go to jail just like me. We won’t have the yacht or the money we have right now so  it's either that or nothing.” He snarled through his teeth, reaching his hand as if asking her to stand up.

The TV stopped playing, followed by static, there were murmurs and shocked disgusted faces of the fans who once adored the male teen idol. 

“ What a monster”

“How could he do this to those poor creatures?”

“Holy…”

“Why would he do this?”

They started to see what kind of a monster he was, he wasn’t the kind and gentle they thought he was. Some even cried feeling betrayed by his actions

Veneer only glared at Velvet, frustration and anger in his eyes, he paid no attention to the angered crowd.

“What the hell...” 

Velvet turned towards Venner, still holding a blank straight face. “This is your fault Veneer,” She began. “You brought this upon yourself, and I’m not gonna keep pretending what you are doing isn’t wrong.”

He didn’t say anything, he stepped forward, his hands twisting into a fist.

“What the actual hell..” He gripped his fist tightly.  Velvet stepped back, flinching a little.

It didn’t take long before Veneer raised his fist at his sister, in the heat of the moment, his fist connected with her face

Velvet fell to the ground, her face filled with pure shock and horror at what Veneer had just done, her eyes widened as she lay on the floor. Her body mildly shook as she looked up at her brother, touching her bruised face.

“V-Ven-” She stuttered, but was cut off by the sudden jump by Veneer, he wrapped his hand around her neck, squeezing it tightly not letting go.

“Shut up! Shut up!” He pressed his hand on her neck with more force, screaming every insult he had at her. 

Velvet tried to breathe, struggling with every gasp, she held her brother trying to get off her. But to no avail, she was running out of breath, her vision getting blurry, her heart pounding on her chest, feeling her throat tighten with every breath she drew

“I should’ve gotten rid of you when I had the chance!” He screamed, his tone full of hatred, “You are weighing me down!” He squeezed tighter and tighter, filled with rage and frustration at his sister. 

Velvet flinched as he squeezed her tight, his grasp was too strong, and her vision started to get blurry, her eyes rolling back, and started panicking 

Another security guard immediately rushed in, along with a police officer following him, they got him off of Velvet and tackled him to the ground, holding him down

“Sir, you're coming with us,” he said, as he put the handcuffs on the angered boy.

“Let go of me! Let go of me you little bit-Velvet!!” Veneer snarled, struggling viciously, causing the officer to grip even tighter and tighten the handcuffs. 

Velvet coughed and hacked, trying to catch her breath, she inched a few shaky steps backward as the officer detained her brother. She didn’t even recognize the boy in front of her.

“Your alright ma’am,” An officer asked, helping her up. 

“Y-Yeah,” She answered, “Just shaken up” She touched her neck which was now covered in bruises.

“I know it isn’t easy, but you did the right thing,” The officer said, giving a gentle pat on the shoulder.  “Are you sure gonna be okay though?”

Velvet smiled weakly, rubbing her neck. “I’m…I-I’m sure.” She hesitated

The officer nodded, walking away from the scene.

Velvet stood there, still frightened and shocked by what happened earlier. She looked at Veneer one more time, his eyes glared at hers, still filling the pure rage and anger,  he mumbled something she couldn’t hear but she knew it wasn’t anything good. 

She turned away and sat down, sighing deeply. She thought about what happened,  feeling a mixture of guilt and confusion, she didn't know what to feel.

Wasn't she supposed to be happy?

She did the right thing but why isn't she happy?

Shouldn't she let him explain first?

Was the police really necessary?

She knew her brother was doing something very wrong and knew what he was capable of, but maybe she was being a bit harsh on him.

Maybe she should've given him just another chance

Maybe she should've just let him do his thing and 

______________________________________________________

“Is that you felt when Veneer got arrested” 

The therapist wrote down of what Velvet said on his notes, listening carefully

Velvet slightly shook her head, “Yes, maybe? I don’t know.” She replied truthfully, “I know what my brother did was wrong, but I can’t help but feel guilty for exposing him at the Rage Dome Show.”

“Do you think I did the right thing?” She asked the therapist

“That's a pretty difficult question to answer myself.” He remarked, “You are the only one who decides if you made the right decision or not.”

“I know but..” Velvet paused, falling silent. “He's still my brother, my family…”

The Therapist put down his clipboard and sighed. “How about you think about it until our next session?” 

Velvet nodded in response, “S-Sure.” She replied, sounding unsure of herself.

She looked down at her hands, her fingers trembling as she thought about the events that happened that day. She can still see the hatred glare Veneer had on his face in her mind, those eyes full of anger, rage, frustration. 

She try shake it off, but couldn’t help if she still did the right thing.

Maybe she did, maybe she didn't, but she hoped it didn't things any worse than it needed to be. 

An au where Velvet and Venner are swapped and Venner is the one that gets arrested. Inspired by Milimuffins in Tumblr and Ao3

Part 2

[random-bi-writer]

what do you think the personalites each LN kids have and your headcannons of them

I'll just be answering the protags first cause I can't come up with the minor ones.

Six

Nonbinary.

She's a kind little kid. Gets scared easily. Tries to help anyone who saves her, even if they betrayed her before. Copies anyone she trusts. Is only playful when she feels safe. Is a little feral thanks to Mono's influence.

Likes music and non-human looking toys.

Can see ghosts.

Hates herself cause of trauma. Trust issues but will cling to any kid if they ask her to tag along to feel less lonely.

2) RK

I'm calling him Sven now instead of Sunday. I can't believe I didn't think of that earlier.

CisMale

I think he's 10 or 12.

Determined little shit. Freaks out over understandable reasons. Uses violence on instinct when he freaks out. Chaotic Good. Book smarts. Thinks he's normal but he's actually not.

Likes to dance. Hates water.

Is worried about flashlight girl because he befriended her due to them sleeping next to each other and they were supposed to escape together.

3) RCG

I'm calling her Ori instead of Rain because it's short for Origin, which is also known as Zero-Zero. It's also a play of words since her game is the origin of the raincoat.

TransFem

I don't have an accuarate age, she looks like 12 in her game but I think that if she were alive; she'd be a teenager when Six is going through the first game.

Bravest among the protags. Is nice but will not hesitate to hurt anyone if she finds it necesarry. She looks cold on the outside but is secretly protective to people younger than her even if she's in danger (I don't think she knows that she betrayed Six, the little baby was passed out after all.) Knows when to flee. Streets smarts. A bit cunning. Acts recklessly.

Likes to drive any transportation. Also likes breaking stuff.

If she were a ghost, she'd follow Six around and would hate Mono.

4) Mono

Pangender.

He looks 12 in his game but I think he'd be 14 if he was around during the first game.

Violence is the answer. Sucks at understanding emotions and consequences but still means well. Overprotective big brother vibes. Teaches Six all the wrong things just for either gags or he thinks its normal.

Really likes hats. Likes to see his enemies burn. Sucks at physical activites despite being able to lift a school locker.

If Mono understood why Six dropped him, he would watch her adventures since the tower won't let him leave.

5) If everyone survived.

Sven, Ori and Mono are overprotective to Six. But she's secretly the braincell of their group since everyone lack self-presevation.

The braincell holder will be Ori whenever Six is alone with Mono.

Six and Sven would do musicals due to their interests. Six would play any instrument they would find while Sven would dance and sing.

Ori will stitch Six's own raincoat with a color of her choosing.

Six thought it was normal to hide your face due to Ori and Mono trying to look edgy or cool until Sven corrects her.

Ori and Mono's relationship is the definition of "Mom and Dad are fighting". Sven is just done with them at this point.

Mono and Six have their own secret language. "Hey!" "Oi!" "Hey!" "Oi!" the other two will find it cute but downright confused.

Mono and Sven likes to be idiots together. Ori is done with them.

Ori and Sven act as exhausted parents whenever Mono and Six get into trouble.

Mono will never admit it, but he feels less lonely.

Six has less trauma.

[alrissamariam]

To The Friends That Look Out For Me More Than I Look Out For Myself

I’ve always been grateful for the people that I’ve crossed paths with in my life. They could go and I’d be happy because they left for a reason and I’ve learned the lesson I needed to from that. Or they could stay and I’d be happy because I have friends that might be just as mentally unstable as I am yet the lessons learned were learned together.

I used to live my life with thousands of doubts, I couldn’t find it in me to stick to one spot in life because I feared the day I’d make the wrong mistake and lose it all. But then I realised that’s what mistakes are for, to be made in order to learn.

I was told that they became friends with me because they enjoyed my company. The fit of giggles, the subtitled faces, the always-dressed-in-black member, the easy flowing conversations and the apparently fast but safe driving.

But, as somebody who struggles with letting their emotions out verbally, I kept most things to myself and prioritised them because I hated being selfish. I never asked for help all my life, I would always power through it myself and figure it out without the extension of any arms to hold onto.

Maybe that was the problem. After a decade of never asking for help, you could never believe that anyone would ever want to help you. The same way abuse can feel like love, starving people will eat anything, but the paranoid ones will kill themselves first.

And I fear that’s exactly what I’m doing.

But this letter isn’t about how paranoid I feel when making new friends. This is to the ones that stayed and showed me time and time again that their trust and loyalty sticks where it stands, and stays where it imprints.

In this case, it has been imprinted on the remains of my broken and betrayed heart. 

I have been a victim of many failed friendships where trust was broken, haunted by betrayal and envy. Perhaps, for lack of better words, fucked up. The days where coming home from school meant a walk in the sun with my lonely thoughts of why I wasn't good enough and the hard acceptance of the fact that I had no friends.

The kind of people I have met in my life leave with different kinds of stories and scars, albeit some are lessons to be learned or maybe even the greatest experience I could ever have. I could never truly hate them all except for some. It was the way I am as a person.

How could I hate somebody for being hurt?

How could I hate somebody for reaching out?

How could I ever invalidate how somebody else was feeling?

Making friends has always been a difficult task for me. The fear of being used, chucked to the side once they’ve gotten the information they wanted, constantly misunderstood. I tend to stick to myself and the very small circle I have. But even then, I fear the day I come to them with the heavy sacks that burden my shoulders, I’d be turned away and laughed at for the ugly truth on my back.

But these friends, the friends I made at an old workplace I never thought would grace me with them, showed me the kind of friendship where asking for help isn’t a bad thing to do and it is never selfish. That I could fall to the ground and still reach a hand out to them, and they would jump into the water to help push me up before giving me their last breath.

They told me that I can’t help everyone else but not help myself. I was drowning, and they knew that despite the lack of words coming out of my lips that I could never verbally say. The subtitles on my face were a dead giveaway, I was sure. 

They were horrified by the dead look in my eyes, the light was gone. My face had fallen and my spirits were crushed. I don’t think they imagined it was as bad as it is until they saw me detach from a room full of people where the music blasted loudly, like I was in a dark room, alone. 

They helped shed some light into that dark room where the remnants of my horrific past and present haunts me. The sunshine they carried was enough to keep my wilting-self hoping for water, praying for a tiny bit of rain to shower me with delight.

Hope. That’s what they constantly instil in me.

And I could only hope that’s what I do for them too.

And so, to the ones that look out for me more than I look out for myself, 

Here’s to the moments of vulnerability that you’ve allowed me to have, the rod you have become for me to pull myself up on, the match that sparks the tiniest bit of fire inside of me that will eventually burn into a flame, the jug you have become to contribute to my draining ocean, the wind that you are that blows me into the air to remind me that I can fly.

I have the biggest space in my heart filled for you, your loyalty and your friendship. My hope is that we stay friends long enough for you to see me on TV doing what I love, to be the one to screech with excitement as I announce my engagement, to be the one to help me with my dress before I walk down the aisle, bring me too much food and spoil my child with your endless giving nature and big heart.

My hope is that we stay friends long enough for me to be angry at you when you don’t end up dropping my kid at school and instead take them to the park or to get ice cream. For me to see you grow into the person that you truly are and reach the potential you have held yourself back from.

For me to witness the ever-so-subtle signs of you healing from the trauma your childhood gave you and break the cycle for your next generation. And when it crumbles from time to time, and it will, I hope to be there for you the same way you have always been for me.

And so, to the ones that look out for me more than I look out for myself; my glass can be empty and I’d still fill an ocean for you.

[littlenim]

was writing this out in the tags of the chuck tingle post I just rb'd as a means of explaining a point i feel was being missed by a few people in the tags, but realized it was getting way too cumbersome. left it there but i also kinda wanted to expand even more because i have lots of strong passionate feelings... sooooooooo, readmore...

for something that really impacted the way i frame the "separating the art from the artist" discussion i cannot recommend enough Emily Nussbaum's essay on her relationship to Louis CK and Woody Allen's work in her book I Like To Watch. it's a super personal and thoughtful take on a complex concept that I think often gets misunderstood and discussed without much nuance (the rest of the book focuses more on specific pieces of art and is super enjoyable to me as someone who loves film criticism.)

i think it's valuable in that her essay frames the core of the question "can you?" the same way that chuck does here and separates from the externally-driven choice to project a kind of morality (which is noble thing when you know the result of supporting the thing is harm in itself, regardless of whether or not you innately dislike the art in itself). a personal example, choosing not to purchase/stream new Kanye West music/merch/events while still listening to your old download/CD of Yeezus because you enjoy it.

from the completely internal "in the closest thing to a vacuum can i still get joy out of consuming this, or will my knowledge of the creator/circumstances of its creation hinder that?" which is in itself so simple, and yet is an aspect i feel people who ask other people these kind of simple "am i still allowed to enjoy x" questions haven't examined for themselves. this isn't meant to shame, these questions online come out of an understandable, natural, fear of social pressure, but they're revealing of insecurity/lack of faith in the asker's own values. but it's really that simple!

there's no way to remove information from your mind once it is there, the media-enjoyment vacuum doesn't exist. there's no vacuum where you're safe from the knowledge you already have and there IS a certain point where that knowledge will render you less able to enjoy something you may have once loved. it's a sad feeling! trust me- I was a huge HP fan growing up, and the love didn't just instantly vanish the second JKR started on her BS. but over time, the weight of everything did diminish the love in a way 10 year old me would never have believed was possible, with how strong and all-consuming it was then.

it was exactly like the feeling of falling out of love with a person who broke your heart. for some lucky people, in some cases, maybe it happens instantly, but in my experience it takes time. you still love them, and it might take weeks, months, a year to TRULY get over it. it sucks. but being betrayed and disappointed by someone you loved is unfortunately an unavoidable cost of growing older and wiser.

Emily talks in that essay about going back and re-watching the Louis show after everything about him starting to break, convinced she'd still enjoy it, and finding that there was an undeniable stain she could feel spreading on it, coloring scenes she'd have previously found innocuous in new light. almost against the will of the fan within herself, her perspective on art that has once meant a lot to her shifted in a natural and complicated way. i'm paraphrasing and simplifying very small parts of a very lengthy and complicated piece of writing (so please read it if you get the chance).

when you consume that media, only your heart can determine where the scales tip and the media becomes unenjoyable, and it's nobody's business but your own. nobody's asking you to try to change your own feelings on beloved art at the drop of a hat, they're just asking that you open yourself to them being changed. chances are, your feelings will come to align with your values in time- and even if they never fully do, you still have the gift of free will to choose what you give your support and praise to. so, basically, worry less.

[blossomhcir]

BOTANICAL HEADCANONS;  ACCEPTING under the cut is a long list of headcanon questions i was blessed with by @bruiisedpetals​!

❧  Salvia: Is your muse possessive over people or things that matter a lot to them? How do they express that possessiveness, or lack thereof? 

She wouldn’t consider herself a possessive person, but to a degree she is. Mostly in that when she gets attached to people she worries that at some point those people will lose interest in her or find someone they like better. So it translates into her being a bit jealous when that person shows someone else attention, affection, etc. Though her jealousy rarely if ever translates to extremes, mostly she just makes herself sad or at worst is passive aggressively pouty about it, though if she feels really disrespected it may turn into an argument.

❧  Poppy: What comforts your muse?   

In terms of places, the gardens and orchards of Sweetgrove are a huge comfort to her. Being with plants and working with the earth makes her calm and gives her peace to think or just let go of her thoughts and just be. Music is also a huge comfort to her. She can play various string instruments (the lute, mandolin, bandora) and just loves to play in general. She also writes her own music which is a huge creative outlet and comfort to her. She also finds physical touch incredibly comforting, though that’s more of a rarity. Not that her family is unloving, but Douglas himself is not a very physically affectionate man, especially as Adelaide grew older. She also doesn’t want to seek out her younger siblings for affection and comfort, she’s supposed to be the one for them to lean on.

 ❧  Chamomile: What is your muse likely to take away from a painful experience? Are they one to be haunted by adversity, or to use what they’ve gone through to become stronger?  

Every painful experience is something to learn from. Of course, in the moment it hurts, but the promise that she will be better for having felt with it is what gets her through the most painful times in her life.

❧  Ivy: What are your muse’s views on marriage? Do they believe it is something strictly for love, or an institution rooted in business & social benefits? Do they desire or have they desired to be married? 

Adelaide wants to marry for love, in a way that’s the thing she’s wanted most in life. Apart from her father’s lack of interest in marrying her off, a large part of the reason she’s not formed a marriage of convenience is because of her insistence that she married for love. Her parents' marriage was essentially arranged and she knew from an early age that her mother especially was never really happy in her marriage. She could see how that affected her mother and she doesn’t want to live that kind of life. She wants more and she craves love. She wants someone to want her because they see something good in her that they cherish, not just for land or producing heirs. That being said, she knows that as much as she would like to marry for love, the rest of the world, especially the nobility, see marriage as a business transaction. She knows there might come a time when she’ll have to marry someone for politics and if it comes to that, she will do her duty because that is the honorable thing to do.

❧  Lavender: How easy is it to gain your muse’s trust? Once their trust is broken, how might one go about mending it? 

Adelaide isn’t gullible by any means, gaining her trust takes time, but she also likes to assume the best in people until they prove otherwise. Now if someone has a reputation for being unsavory then it’s much harder for her to trust them because they’ve already proved themselves with their actions in her mind. Once someone has broken her trust it would be very hard to get it back, if it can even be repaired. She values loyalty and trust, if that’s ever broken then she will not quickly forget it. If someone betrays her trust and goodwill they would need to show with their actions that they’re sincere in regretting it and that they won’t do it again. It would be a long road to repair it.

 ❧  Amaryllis: What is something or someone that your muse takes pride in? How do they express that pride?  

Adelaide’s biggest pride is Sweetgrove. Of course she didn’t have a hand in making it what it is today, but she feels a lot of pride in that it’s her land. Her family created something beautiful and she’s proud to be heir of it.  She shows her pride by working diligently to maintain Sweetgrove, seeing to its daily administration, making sure their tenants are taken care of, maintaining the land to ensure they continue to have plentiful harvests. They are the land, it provides for them and they take care of it in turn. She loves her home dearly and though she takes pride in doing it, the weight of being responsible for it and all the people living there weighs on her.  

❧  Begonia: How cautious is your muse? Are they prone to noticing red flags, or paranoid to the point of untrusting most everyone? Why or why not?  

I would say she’s fairly cautious. Adelaide has a fair bit of anxiety, she constantly wonders if she’s made the right choice or if she’s done something wrong, so sometimes I think she sees red flags that she’s invented for herself. She wants to be trusting and believe that people are good or sometimes convinces herself that she’s being silly because she knows she’s anxious so sometimes she talks herself out of the red flags she does see. 

❧  Gardenia: Is your muse one to confess romantic feelings early on, or to conceal them for long periods of time?   

Adelaide will hold onto her romantic feelings like her life depends on it, depending on the situation. She’s deeply afraid of rejection and not having her feelings returned. Adelaide has always had this underlying sense that she’s not good enough in some way, that she’s not worthy of being loved. Her one past relationship it was clearly established that it was not going to be romantic and she did not love Adelaide, which just ramped up that fear. So she’s very much afraid to be vulnerable and be the first to confess. If she’s given any reason to suspect that her feelings are unrequited she will swallow those feelings down and quietly pine for a long time. If she feels comfortable with the person and if it seems like the feelings might be mutual, she may confess after a while, but she would spend a long time debating if she should.

[rebrandedbard]

number 42 for the drabble prompts please? :)

42. “I swear it was an accident.”

tw: death (not of main characters), kinda gross corpse descriptions

WC: 2456

Poet’s Sight

Jaskier keeps falling in with dangerous creatures and Geralt is starting to think he’s cursed. That is, until Geralt takes a contract for a noonwraith and Jaskier gets ahead of him. It is then Geralt remembers something important about the nature of rare poets.

-

That made the third time. Three monsters in as many months, and Geralt was starting to worry. Somehow, Jaskier had a habit of stumbling upon the creatures before him, even when he was doing his best to stay away from the fight. Though his medallion offered no hints, Geralt felt sure Jaskier had been cursed somehow. There was no other explanation for it. For two of the hunts, Geralt had not yet arrived in town, would not have been able to defend Jaskier if he got himself into any kind of trouble, and Jaskier had been entirely unaware of the contracts. But this had been the final straw. As things were, Jaskier ought not to be living.

“I swear, it was an accident,” Jaskier said. “The light was low and it seemed like any ordinary dog. I swear, it was an ordinary dog. It had fur and everything—nothing at all as you described.”

Geralt squeezed Jaskier’s shoulders, the corpse of the beast just yards away from where they stood. “It was a barghest. Do you have any idea how much danger you were in! It would have eaten you alive if I let it, torn you from the bowels out!”

“But it…”

“They don’t have a quality of mercy.”

Jaskier stared at the corpse. He wore a pinched expression, not quite comprehending the vision before him. The fleshy, mutated monster looked so much larger, so much more twisted than it had moments before. Its odd tongue, prickled and forked, flopped out from its foaming maw. That same tongue had felt the same as any dog’s before as it licked Jaskier’s face. It had been smooth and slimy and affectionate. And it had not had such large teeth.

He’d gone out to fetch more wood for the fire—really, he’d gone out to relieve himself in private—and he’d happened upon a dog among the bushes. It had looked perfectly sweet in the moonlight: a shaggy brown and white thing with a fluffy, wagging tail. It had followed after him on his way back to camp. Jaskier had always been fond of dogs, so he’d stopped awhile to pet it. Really, it had been friendly. It curled up at his feet and allowed him to scratch it behind the ears. Everything had been just fine, and he’d just picked up a large stick to initiate a quick game of fetch when Geralt came crashing out of the trees, sword raised.

“It was an ordinary dog,” Jaskier whispered. He still had the stick in his hand.

Geralt looked Jaskier in the eye. His nostrils flared ever-so slightly, as if scenting for a lie. The lines in his face smoothed and he sighed, prying the stick from Jaskier’s grasp. “I thought you’d seen it. The way you raised the stick …” He looked at it. It would have snapped in an instant in a true fight. He tossed it near the barghest’s corpse and turned Jaskier back towards camp.

“… You felt fur?” he asked.

Jaskier nodded. “Soft as anything.”

“I don’t understand it. To you, it was as if it were nothing more than a dog.”

“Perhaps I’m seeing things wrong. Was it …  as it tasting me before the feast? When I pet it, was it simply waiting to size me up? Oh, Geralt, what if I’ve had my mind taken over by a witch? Am I seeing visions? Are you real?”

He reached up to grope at Geralt’s cheeks, pulling them and prodding at his armour, his swords, and his chest. Geralt pulled his hands away carefully and shook his head.

“There’s not a trace of magic around you as far as I can tell,” he grunted.

“Then we’ll have to find someone who can tell these things. I’m scared, Geralt. I already lack the ability to defend myself in other ways; if I don’t know when to run, I’ll surely wind up dead before the year is out, if not sooner!”

Probably sooner, Geralt thought. “We’ll consult a mage. There are curses strong enough to evade detection from the medallion. They’re rare, but not unheard of. A mage would be able to tell us more: what kind of curse it is and how to lift it.”

As they stepped into the safety of the firelight, Roach raised her head, flicking her ears towards Jaskier. He wobbled over to her and wrapped his arms around her neck. She sniffed him, then turned her ear to Geralt for answers.

Geralt was looking at Jaskier carefully. It would be too dangerous to stay in the woods another night. Where there was one barghest, there were bound to be others. He would keep watch until first light, then they’d set out for the next town.

“Jaskier,” Geralt called.

Jaskier uncurled from Roach’s neck.

“I want you to stay in town for my next contract,” he said. “You’ll under a curfew until this gets resolved: indoors between dusk and dawn. I want you on the inn grounds whenever I’m not present. Are we understood?”

Jaskier balked at being confined indoors. “Can’t I come along with you?” he asked.

“No. If this is a curse, you might be a danger to me on contracts. To me and yourself.” It would be a greater liability than merely getting underfoot. This thing seemed to attract danger, or else to pull Jaskier towards danger. Either way, he was staying put somewhere safe.

“But Geralt—”

“I won’t hear any argument,” Geralt snapped. He narrowed his eyes, pinning Jaskier with a glare. “Do you remember what happened two weeks ago? You heard a woman cry in the middle of the night. And what did you do?”

Jaskier sighed and flopped down on his bedroll. “She didn’t wail like a banshee. And I’ve told you a hundred times over: she looked human! I held her hand! You can’t hold the hand of a ghost,” he protested. “And what’s more, she spoke. It wasn’t nonsense. How was I to know what she was if I can’t trust my own eyes and ears?”

He lay down in a huff, crossing his arms over his chest. Geralt could feel the frustration rolling off of him in waves. “What I find odd is that none of them so far have hurt me,” he mumbled.

“That’s because I came in time to save your satin-covered ass,” Geralt replied.

“I was with the banshee for hours, Geralt. You didn’t arrive in town until the middle of the night. Why would she wait to kill me when she had me already?”

Geralt thought about it. A banshee was more often an omen than an outright threat, though still dangerous. He’d stayed close to Jaskier for the next three days to see what dreaded fortune the omen foretold, but he’d not come to any harm in that time. Then again, he’d never heard of a banshee speaking before. It was possible Jaskier had not been with her for hours as he claimed, for if his senses were betraying him, how could he know the passing of the time? His accounts were questionable until this was resolved.

When they arrived in town the next morning, it was just before noon. There was no inn, but they were given permission to stay in one of the farmer’s barns. Geralt went to the alderman for a contract and left Jaskier safely behind, composing in among the hay. It was a noonwraith, Geralt discovered, that had been withering the fields. He oiled his sword and returned to the edge of town to wait for it to appear.

On the way, he stopped by the barn to update Jaskier. He was surprised to hear no music within. When he looked, he did not see Jaskier dozing among the hay. He was not where he’d left him at Roach’s side. Listening closely, he heard no heartbeat within. Jaskier was gone.

Geralt cursed and tore himself from the barn. “Jaskier!” he called. But Jaskier was not about. Geralt followed the trail of his scent toward the fields, his feet pounding on the dry earth. He’d made Jaskier promise not to leave the barn. He’d damn well better be enchanted to wander off so mindlessly on his own.

“Miss? Little miss, would you please slow down! I’m not supposed to be out here!”

Geralt turned his head toward the sound of Jaskier’s pleas. There, down the hill, he saw a flash of blue among the yellow stalks. Jaskier was running along the edge of the field, one arm out as if chasing something. He was shouting in his worried voice. As Geralt watched, Jaskier paced in front of the boundary, hesitating before an opening in among the tall crops.

“Little girl?” Jaskier called. “This isn’t a game! You bring me back my ring this instant!” Then, he called out again, diving into the fray.

But Geralt had seen no girl.

Geralt charged down the hill and entered the fields full-tilt. He followed the trail, catching up from behind, listening as he did. His sword was at the ready. The sun was already approaching its apex, and soon the wraith would be out. If it wasn’t out already.

“Troublesome girl!” Jaskier gruffed. “First she steals my ring, then she drops it in the dirt like a seed among the ro—”

There came a pause, and Geralt heard a stalk break somewhere ahead by Jaskier. His voice came again from the same place. “Well, that’s an odd find. Popped up like a lucky charm. Did the thing grow through you?”

The wind stirred, carrying Jaskier’s words clearly, though he was still too far to reach. Geralt’s blood ran cold. His medallion was trembling against his chest, warning of the wraith’s arrival.

“Oh? Is it yours, young lady?” Jaskier asked.

Geralt felt the panic wash over him. A ring in a field. A token from the wraith. The idiot ought not to have touched it! She’d make him the target of her wrath, dry up his soul into a husk, and force him to waste himself away like the withered stalks around them with only—

“A dance?” Jaskier asked. He laughed, voice ringing clear above the wind. “Oh, very well, but only a very short one; I’ve still got to find that little girl, give her a lecture about respecting personal property.”

Geralt was almost upon them. He could see the clearing in the field ahead, the strong sunlight filtering through. Jaskier’s voice was clearer, and the wind had a strange quality to it. It seemed to lull in time to Jaskier’s speech.

“Sister? Ah, then I’d best go easy on her,” Jaskier said. He was moving away quickly now. The wind blew, and suddenly Jaskier was laughing, bright and clear. “Buried your mother’s ring? What a scamp! And you’ve been out here every afternoon liking for it since—and no wonder! It’s a lovely piece. May I?”

Geralt broke through the field in time to see Jaskier dancing with the wraith. She was a hollowed thing, burned by the sun, her hair bleached white. They turned once, then Jaskier lowered himself on one knee and, taking the wraith’s hand, slipped the ring onto her finger.

“There!” Jaskier said. “You know? Our rings almost make a pair.”

The wind blew and Jaskier appeared to be listening. He laughed, patting the wraith’s hands, and the wind stopped blowing. “Oh no, I’m afraid I’m spoken for. It would make a lovely engagement ring, but not to me. Even so, I don’t suppose a kiss would be amiss.” And so he leaned forward and kissed the wraith’s cheek, as if she were not a lifeless husk.

Geralt was stunned. It was … it was as if the wraith were speaking to Jaskier. He watched the two of them start up the dance again. He’d witnessed the dancing of noonwraiths before, and their victims screamed in horror until their final breath. The wraith made them dance in a mad frenzy until they fell to the ground, dead from exhaustion and terror. This dance was a frolic, full of laughter. It was unhurried as Jaskier allowed himself to be twirled round and round. When the dance came to an end, it had not been any more than the length of a song. Jaskier tilted his head, listening while the wind whistled in the field.

“So soon?” he asked. “Well, I thank you for the lovely dance. You be sure to tell your sister to mind her manners for me, won’t you? I’ve got to head back myself before I give my witcher a fright. I—oh, there she is now!”

Geralt turned to look where Jaskier was waving, but he saw nothing at all.

“You mind your sister,” Jaskier said, wagging a finger at the empty air. “You’re much too old to be getting up to these tricks.”

And at once, Geralt understood. Jaskier was a poet. There were poets in this world who were made of a different cut—who could see beyond the limits of the physical world. The banshee, the barghest, the wraith … and Geralt was sure even now that Jaskier was shaking his finger in the face of a ghost. They were all of the other realm.

He had sight.

Jaskier waved as the wraith began to fade through the field, disappearing. “Take care!” he called. “And be careful on your way. There’s a contract in town, so there’s trouble about somewhere. Have no fear, we’ll be sure to make everything safe, my witcher and I.”

At that, Geralt snorted, and Jaskier turned his head.

Jaskier turned pale at once, clutching his hands to his chest. “Ger—I can explain, Geralt!” he stammered. “I swear, I would have stayed in the barn, but this little girl came in and she stole my ring right off my finger! It’s my father’s ring, and I couldn’t just let … her …” Jaskier blinked, staring at Geralt, perplexed. “Are you laughing?”

Indeed Geralt was. All the stress from the last three months bubbled up and escaped as laughter, shaking his shoulders.

Jaskier chuckled along nervously. “I would have thought you’d be furious with me for running out. Erm … did you finish your contract then?”

Geralt clapped an arm around Jaskier’s shoulder. “I’d say you finished it for me today,” he corrected. “And I’ve just figured out the answer to your little curse.”

Jaskier perked up slightly, realizing he wasn’t in trouble just yet. “Is that so? Will you tell me then?”

“If you promise me one thing.”

“What’s that?”

Geralt smiled and rubbed the ash from Jaskier’s lips with his glove. “Never,” he said, “kiss another noonwraith again.”

“Kiss a what?” Jaskier squawked.

[robininthelabyrinth]

Spilled Pearls

- Chapter 14 - ao3 -

If Lan Qiren hadn’t had any idea on what to do with Cangse Sanren to begin with, he had even less of an idea of what to do when he received a letter from his sworn brother which, after some deciphering of the small talk and insincerely meant pleasantries that could just as easily be read as implicit threats, seemed to boil down to so I hear you have a lover now? and also come to the Nightless City at once.

I do not have a lover, Lan Qiren wrote back crossly. You should send whatever spies you have packing because they are clearly completely useless to you. Also, I have classes that I have no intention of missing. If you want company, recall that you have a wife.

That won him a few weeks of blissful silence, possibly due to Wen Ruohan’s shock but more likely due to Lan Qiren having spitefully chosen to send his reply by usual post rather than by special post, which was more expensive and also generally reserved for important sect matters and not for obvious fishing attempts for gossip about the personal lives of juniors.

Which Wen Ruohan should be above, anyway. What did it matter to him?

The response, not long after that, went something along the lines of so what you’re saying is that you haven’t won the immortal mountain’s disciple yet? if you come to Qishan, I can advise you and that irritated Lan Qiren most of all, because right up until that point he hadn’t known that Cangse Sanren was a disciple of the famous Baoshan Sanren, the best-known immortal still in contact with the mortal world.

Mostly because Cangse Sanren hadn’t ever bothered to introduce herself.

It bothered him, a little. More than a little. She knew how much he valued people acting according to the rules; even if she didn’t care for them, shouldn’t she respect his inclination?

(It turned out that she didn’t introduce herself because she didn’t have a proper name, just the title that everyone used for her. Baoshan Sanren let everyone keep the name they came to the mountain with, but Cangse Sanren had come too young for any name at all, and so she’d never gotten one in all the suspiciously unspecified years she had spent on the timeless mountain. It was a pretty good reason not to introduce yourself, as such things went, and it also belatedly explained why she took offense to people calling anyone old.)

I am not trying to win anyone, he wrote back to Wen Ruohan. And even if I was, which I am not, I would still have classes and am not currently at liberty to travel. Has there been some sort of terrible tragedy such that your Wen sect is so desperate for additional people in the Nightless City?

You are not just any person but my sworn brother, Wen Ruohan responded. Am I not entitled to see you? Maybe I want to see this beard you’re reputedly growing.

Lan Qiren rolled his eyes and threw the letter into the box he was keeping all the others. He was trying to grow a beard, as it happened, though being a newly-turned eighteen it was a slow and frustrating process. He wasn’t entirely sure he liked the itchy feeling of it growing, either, but stroking his chin as if in thought was nearly as cathartic as waving his hands, only more socially acceptable; he liked that part very much.

He’d always had a tendency towards strange motions – moving his hands or arms, tapping on things, or rocking back and forth when he was especially distressed – but his brother had always hated it especially, always quoting Do not move arbitrarily at him even though he knew that that wasn’t the fundamental meaning of that rule. That wouldn’t have been so much of an issue, except most other people seemed to agree with him, citing the importance of acting in a dignified and restrained manner, limiting unnecessary movement and remaining still and calm as a placid pool of water no matter what the circumstance.

The beard was an acceptable compromise. Given how common beards were in the sect, it would be hard to criticize Lan Qiren without accidentally insulting an elder – and it felt so good to be able to move freely, the action serving as an aid for emotional regulation that he desperately needed.

Of course, Cangse Sanren thought it was ugly.

Lan Qiren didn’t agree, but he also didn’t think it was any of her business what he did with his face. Even if it was ugly, so what? He wasn’t particularly egotistical.

Accordingly, he thanked her stiffly for her opinion and then proceeded to ignore it.

Apparently, that didn’t sit well with her, a fact Lan Qiren only discovered when he woke up one day, groggy and unclear as to what had happened the night before, to find himself shaven clean and Cangse Sanren beaming at him from within his own room, to which he had never invited her.

He did not react well.

Stories of your shouting have reached even Qishan, Wen Ruohan’s next letter said. Was what your little lover did really so bad? I hadn’t known you were so sensitive. It’s not as if it won’t grow back.

This is your fault, Lan Qiren wrote back, irrational and upset, his calligraphy rough from the way his hand shook – though whether in rage or something else he couldn’t quite tell. I don’t want to hear from you.

Truly his reaction had been out of proportion with Cangse Sanren’s offense. Shaving a beard, especially a half-grown thing like that, was little more than a childish prank, even if it had taken him several months to get as far as he had; in the end, it was really only a blow to his vanity, and perhaps the loss of a convenient emotional crutch.

And yet, when he’d woken up and seen her there where she wasn’t welcome – when he’d realized that he couldn’t remember the evening before, just the way he couldn’t remember what had happened in the Nightless City that day, waking up to Wen Ruohan smiling at him and an oath he didn’t know nor want – when he’d tasted the sour taste of day-old liquor on his tongue –

He’d panicked.

She’d realized it, he thought in retrospect; the ever-present smile had slowly dripped off her mouth as he stared at her blankly for the first few moments, frozen, and had morphed into an expression of shock when he had broken through his paralysis to start screaming at her to go, get out, leave – he’d even picked up some of his own things to throw at her, just to make her leave faster.

He continued smashing his things after she’d gone, unthinking in his frenzy and unsure why he was so upset, and in the end when clarity had returned and he realized what he’d done he’d been so ashamed that he’d grabbed his guqin and slunk away, retreating to the rooms where the Lan sect entered into seclusion. He couldn’t go into real seclusion with so little preparation, of course, but he was practiced enough at inedia that he could skip meals for a few days and not need to see the world for at least a week.

Part of the feeling of shame was that he didn’t know why he had reacted so badly. Wasn’t it normal for peers his age to play that sort of trick on each other? It hadn’t been meant as a real insult.

He had no right to feel so betrayed.

And yet, he did.

Cangse Sanren had visited later that day, her hand tapping lightly on the door bound by wards and her normally brash voice murmuring explanations and not-quite apologies – saying that she hadn’t realized what it had meant to him, that she wouldn’t have done it if she’d known, asking if he wouldn’t come out to talk to her about it and let her apologize properly.

He ignored her.

He ignored her the next day and the day after, too. His hands were unsteady when he tried to play calming songs for himself, his music tangled and knotted up like the feelings in his chest.

On the fourth day, she came and sat by his door in the evening, late and near to curfew.

“I didn’t know, you know,” she finally said after sitting there for nearly a shichen. “About what happened to you in the Nightless City.”

His hands froze over the guqin.

“Drinking liquor comes as easily to me as breathing,” she continued. “No one’s ever been able to play a trick on me because I got drunk – it’s everyone else who falls over in the end, not me. Maybe what why, when someone told me how badly your family handles its liquor, I thought only of how funny it would be…and not how it would feel, waking up and realizing that you didn’t know what happened. What someone could have done to you.” She was silent for a moment. “What I did do.”

Lan Qiren shut his eyes tightly.

Yes, he thought to himself. She was right. That was why he was so upset.

It wasn’t about the beard at all.

“An oath made when you didn’t know it doesn’t count, you know.”

He laughed harshly, the sound catching in his throat like thick mud. “It does,” he said, and his voice was hoarse from the lack of speech. “Of course it counts. It’s my honor, in the end…anyway, there’s no reason for me to lose my head over it. Sect Leader Wen’s powerful and influential; there are those who would cut off their right hands for a connection with him, much less an oath of brotherhood.”

He wasn’t even all that angry at Wen Ruohan for doing it, either, not really. There wasn’t much point – his few experiences with the other man so far showed that that was just what he was like, always taking instead of asking, and scheming was as innate to inter-sect politics as fighting. Might as well be angry at his grandfather for the ancestral weakness to liquor in the Lan lineage.

It had only been the shock of Cangse Sanren’s unexpected actions that had made it feel like a knife stabbed into his back, a scabbed-over wound suddenly ripped open again.

“You didn’t trust him,” Cangse Sanren pointed out. “You trusted me. And I scared you.”

Perhaps that was true.

“You’re still you, you know. Even while drunk.” She chuckled. “You talk more, care less what people think of you; you’re a little more willing to stand up for yourself, a little more bitter, a little less consciously kind. You told me all about music, something that went over my head, then went to sleep in just the right and proper way, albeit right on the floor. I had to wait until you were asleep to shave you.”

That was a relief to hear. Lan Qiren hated the idea of being so vulnerable.

Although – perhaps he wasn’t. According to Lao Nie, he’d apparently kneed Wen Ruohan in the balls that night for bothering him with nonsense or possibly for trying to leave before he finished explaining something, sometime either before or after their oath.

(After, he assumed. If it had been before, it seemed more likely that he would’ve ended up dead.)

“Anyway, I wouldn’t have done anything serious,” she added. “You wouldn’t have woken up married or anything.”

“It’s not you,” he assured her hastily, alarmed by the thought. “I didn’t mean to imply anything about your character, which I know is good; I know you wouldn’t have done anything like that. It’s only – you don’t always know what people think is enough, coming from the immortal mountain as you do. If someone really wanted to push the issue, or if you didn’t have the background you did, just you being in my room unattended might’ve served as an excuse. And then where would we be?”

She was silent for a while.

“You really don’t want to be married to me,” she finally said. “You’re not playing games or anything; you really don’t.”

Lan Qiren felt something lurch in his chest.

“No,” he said, painfully honest. “Did – did you?”

“Maybe a little,” she said, and Lan Qiren winced. The possibility hadn’t even occurred to him, not even when others had suggested it.

“I didn’t mean…”

“I know,” she said, and her voice was warm. “Don’t worry about me, Qiren; I’ll get over it soon enough. There’s no pain I won’t forget a day later, never learning anything, it’s just the way I am.”

He gnawed on his lower lip. “…can I ask why?”

“Why you, you mean?” He could hear her shrugging through the door, the fabric of her clothing rustling against the wall she was leaning against. “You care about things, deeply and truly. Rules, honor, the right path…I like the way you think, the way you care. You have a good heart and a good brain. Why not you?”

“I’m sorry,” he said, and felt rather a wretch over the whole thing. “I didn’t mean to…to…”

She laughed. “You didn’t lead me on, Qiren! You only ever treated me as a friend, and I was, I think. Maybe still am?”

“You are,” he said, and looked down as his guqin, then sighed, picking it up and going to the door. There was no point in pretending to be in seclusion now that the knot in his heart had loosened, and he was starting to get hungry. “Come on, let’s go. I feel a need to graze on the kitchen’s leftover vegetables, as if I were a wild rabbit.”

She beamed up at him, round face shining like the moon.

The next day, after he finished doing penance for missing classes without advance notice – two dozen strikes, but no more – Lan Qiren went down the mountain and purchased some tea said to have especially strong stimulant properties, and gave it to Cangse Sanren.

She blinked at it, then looked at him.

“If you brew this in the morning, you won’t be so tired all the time,” he told her, and shrugged. “Since we’re friends and all.”

He didn’t have that many friends – so few as to not even have recognized her as being one. He was determined to cherish them.

She smiled.

The next day after that, there was surprising news in the Cloud Recesses, the gossip reaching the classroom faster than the messenger sent there specifically for that purpose.

Wen Ruohan had come to pay a visit.

[ceriseeclipse]

Dark Skies

The Signs’ Face Claims

I had this idea for a while: Personification of the signs. I always wanted to write a story that presents the signs as people, with the same features and personalities that the signs are said to have, living their lives, interacting with each other. Here are a few ideas for each character, if I get to the actual story, the characters will develop a lot of course. Please inbox me your feedback, if you would be interested in a story as such. 

Here’s an idea for the face claims. (the actors’ actual sun signs don’t have anything to do with their roles):

Henry Cavill as Aries, the impulsive soldier.Strong-minded and brave, but a hot-head, which makes him dangerous in a fight. He often throws caution to the wind and goes straight to the point, which he may regret later. He lives for today, is initiative and ambitious, lacks certain gentleness, humility and sense of social act, hurts people without even intending to. He’s restless, vital and always looks for new challenges and adventures. Deep-set eyes and dark eyebrows give him the severe, serious but handsome look. He’s not into love, but does like sex. He rarely gets attached to people, only lives for war and winning battles.

Zoë Kravitz as Taurus, the confident, self-sufficient, but sensitive girl. You can rely on her, she’s honest and respects good manners. Patient and cautious, she knows what she wants and won’t let anyone stop her. She keeps her feet firmly on the ground, doesn’t like to dream or wish, she strongly believes that if you want something enough, you have to go and get it. She’s practical and responsible, but easier to break than she’ll ever show. She loves strongly, and passionately, has a big, loving heart, but knows when to let go, she doesn’t put herself down for anyone. Her doe-like, big, brown eyes will make you trust her with your life. She is exactly who a woman should be, if you could say that, confident, strong, independent and intelligent.

Tom Hiddleston as Gemini, the sweet and funny, blonde, curly-haired sunny-boy. He can seamlessly change everything, from style, ideas to work or partner. He is easy to adjust to significant changes. Surrounded by a little nervous energy, he is brilliant but sometimes emotionally unstable. Being bisexual, he likes to sleep around with different people, but doesn’t really mean to intentionally hurt anyone, he just expects other people to take life and relationships as easily as he does. He’s humorous, energetic and cheerful, but doesn’t let anyone see his sensitive side, that’s why his mysterious way seems very attractive. 

Andrew Garfield as Cancer, the typical sweet boy, who likes to play with fire and often gets burned. He can go from being in a great mood to suicidal thoughts in a second. His heart is easy to break and he doesn’t know how to get over it. Trying to bring an order to his chaotic feelings, he starts writing. For himself at first, but that’s how his talent as a writer gets discovered. It helps at first, but his vulnerable nature wants him to take revenge on those who hurt him, which starts to destroy him slowly. 

Madelaine Petsch as Leo, the Queen Bee in Louboutins. She likes expensive clothes, always looks flawless and knows it. She appears even more confident than she actually is. As a struggling actress, her life hasn’t been the easiest. Trusting and a little naive, she’s often been used and lied to. She likes to manipulate people, but sometimes ends up being manipulated herself. Trying hard to hide her generous, forgiving heart, she thinks that the key to success is heartlessness and diamonds. Her brutally honest personality gave her the name of a “bitch”, which she enjoys at times, it gives her a painful kind of satisfaction to be hated, but admired at the same time. Her long, red hair perfectly matches her ever-red lips and green eyes, that roll so often. She enjoys her naturally good looks and knows how to use it for her best. 

Jamie Chung as Virgo, the beautiful healer. She’s a doctor, she lives for helping people. But the sad truth is, she doesn’t always know how to help herself. Being a gorgeous, strong woman, she is full of insecurities, no one can understand. She is ready to sacrifice herself for others, even people she doesn’t know, because her own life doesn’t mean anything to her. Attentive, with great analytical skills, she seems to see everyone's personality through, she sees when somebody’s hurting, when somebody's lying, her eyes don’t miss out on anything. She loves to bring order into the chaotic life, and tries to make the world a better place by being considerate and organized. Being wealthy, she doesn’t like expensive and unnecessary luxuries. Taurus is her soulmate, but unfortunately, there are many struggles that come in their way. Their love is beautiful and innocent, but leaves them both heartbroken, more than once. 

Shay Mitchell as Libra, the girl next door. She has always been a girl who went by unnoticed. A wallflower kind of girl as they say. She never minds, she doesn’t like to show off, doens’t like to shine. Simple clothes and sneakers, ponytail and barely any make-up, that is her every day look. She has a soft personality and knows how to handle troubles, a diplomat, religious, fair, justice has always been important to her. People usually think that she is a depressed teenager, but that isn’t true, life is going as she wishes it to go. She doesn’t like to be pushed, pressured, she prefers to leave responsibility to others. Sometimes, she feels a little basic, that’s all. But the girl will find her place in this world very soon. 

Michael Ealy as Scorpio, the blue-eyed devil. Despite what people said, he isn’t all that bad. The often call him “the evil eye”, if your eyes meet, you always move first. He can kill you with a look, undress you with a look, send you to hell with only one look. He’s never easy, everything is important to him and he takes everything seriously. All around him is black or white, nothing in between. The only people he can call friends seem more like loyal servants. It feels like he never tells the truth, he’s mysterious to a fault and will never tell you his opinion about anything. Don’t do him wrong, he will never let you leave with it. He scars a lot of people. Not always intentionally, just by being himself. 

Will Smith as Sagittarius, the short-tempered cop. He’s charismatic and respectful, a real fighter for justice. Straightforward, he will shoot arrows, he can’t leave anything unspoken. If you’re in the wrong, he’ll make you crack. He does have strong relationships with people, but only the ones who deserve it in his opinion. Quite tolerant, he will accept a lot of your flaws, but never cross a line, he can cut you out of his life in a second. He’s living on the edge, taking risks, jumps into danger, whether it’s about work or love. Being short-tempered, he gets angry fast, screams, even gets physical, but calms down fast and often regrets it. He does have a good soul, but not many get to see it. Mostly, all they see is a man fighting for the good in any possible ways.

Keanu Reeves as Capricorn, the lone wolf. He never really needed anyone. He was fine being alone. Growing up in an orphanage, he was used to it. Not knowing love, no one to care about. But still, he got through, fought for his degree, became a teacher, not even knowing what for. He doesn't really fall in love, he doesn't really get attached, he doesn't really need it. His good looks and seemingly cool nature attracts a lot of people, he’s interesting, mysterious behind closed doors. But no one really knows him, not even himself. At times, it feels like he's ready, to be a part of the world, to take care of people, but he struggles to believe that anyone would put up with him. He always was so ambitious, so determined, but he came to a point where nothing makes sense anymore. That's the moment he meets him. Better said, he reads his book. A book about retaliation.

Margot Robbie as Aquarius, the sharp-tongued beauty. She grew through struggles and insecurities, which turned her into this perfect human being. She was abused, betrayed and had to fight to survive, just to become a brilliant thief. She’s a woman who gets what she wants, with her intelligence and incredible looks. She considers herself a visionary, she has her ambitions and desires, she’s close to the spiritual world and has a great imagination. Overly dramatic at times, she knows her worth, and knows others better than they know themselves. People bore her quite easily, she expects mystery and entertainment from others. Sexually passionate, she suffers from lack of permanent feelings. Her life has to be a never-ending adventure. 

Jared Leto as Pisces, the lost soul. He'a a musician, struggling with drugs and alcohol abuse. His curious and creative mind can't manage between his will to get inspiration and his addictions. He always needs more, whether it's whiskey, love or music, he can never stop. At times, it feels like he's at the end, that he can't do it anymore, but only one shot, and he's back, writing, singing, playing guitar. He falls in love with creative souls like himself, struggling, even dying. For him, it's always over. Every day, can be his last and all he does is singing, dreaming, he always took the path of least resistance.

[pridewhatpride]

do you have any gx rivalshipping hcs!! im super curious on your take of them :]

When I saw this ask my immediate reaction was thinking: "Yes, I have an excuse to talk about gx rivalshipping, YES."

So yeah. I love this ship a lot, like a whole damn lot and it's a little hard to explain why, especially when gx has so many open possibilities for romances involving Judai. By which I mean two, really, and Manjoume is not one of them (sadly for me). I am referring to Yubel and Johan, by the way, I refuse to acknowledge Asuka as a love interest.

I'll start off with a bit of fluff headcanons?

Manjoume thinks Winged Kuriboh is really cute and that its friendly and fluffy appearance screams Judai, in a way. But he will never admit it because of what that might imply for him and the Ojamas.

Manjoume is fueled by caffeine and monster, he only really starts to recognise how nice it can be to have a meal because of how much Judai enjoys his food. He tries to sit at the table with him with dumb excuses.

Judai feels a bit guilty for how his actions impacted Manjoume's life, but Manjoume generally tells him that it's fine, it's better this way, that he's never this happy, that the only reason why Judai should maybe feel bad about it is because of his tendency to get overly invested in other people's problems and getting hurt in the process. Judai responds with bear hugs.

Manjoume brags about Judai a lot, actually. "Oh you think that's cool? One time Judai managed to do a backflip, you loser." "Slifer reds suck, but they do have redeeming qualities, by which I mean one of them is actually good."

Judai likes to indulge himself in the thought that he's Manjoume's most trusted, that he's the only one who could ever be allowed to have that many incriminating pictures of him. Because Judai just loves taking candid pictures of Manjoume. He thinks he looks and and cool in every situation, so yeah. A part of him does it because he has an inexplicable fear of forgetting people and the way they look, but he just can't say why that is.

They hang out in silence a lot, but once they start talking they just never stop. You'll find them on the beach at 3 am with a smiling Manjoume listening to Judai go on about how crazy it is that you can fry food in so many different ways and how he once caught a butterfly as a kid and named it Kujaku.

They share their music a lot, so Manjoume's tastes switch from just emo to fast paced rap and the weirdly happy sounding songs about very morbid things Judai listens to (plus emo). Judai starts to enjoy a bit of angry screaming into microphones thanks to Jun. Do they sing along like idiots as they share earphones? Yes. Is Manjoume mesmerised by Judai's singing voice? Also yes.

Judai loves hiking and sometimes invites Manjoume, but because he's a lot weaker and has less stamina, they take it slow. Manjoume keeps cursing himself for being slow and dead weight, but Judai is just happy to have a companion. Admittedly, going slower makes the walks better as he has the time to enjoy the scenery properly. He never teases Jun about his lack of physical training.

Now... I wanted to talk about my general view on the ship, plus headcanons I guess, but this is going to be EVEN LONGER (you are getting more than you asked for, your fault for enabling me, really). For the sake of the sanity of mobile users, I'm adding a cut so nobody has to unwillingly scroll through endless text.

On to the the juice, then. My thoughts on the ship. Manjoume and Judai are, of course, the rivals of the series and, if my thoughts on rivalry weren't clear enough, I am one of those people. It's just really romantic to me. What is very interesting about the two of them specifically is that they are polar opposites in the way the reason why they play, throughout the whole series. Hell, their views end up getting reversed completely: Manjoume goes from "if I don't win I'm gonna have a breakdown breakdown" to "losing is ok, as long as I enjoy the game and am true to myself", while Judai does the 180 from "I really just love playing cards with my friends, who cares about the outcome, it's fun" to "I have card game related trauma, nobody speak to me, games are only an excuse to assert a sort of power scale and honestly fuck that".

Manjoume is sort of the only person in the 'friend group' (he's never actually part of it, sadly, literally only Judai and Fubuki like him) to not idolise Judai, not explicitly. He clearly has an admiration for Judai from the beginning, but he is adamant on expressing it as hatred towards for being better than him. A part of me feels that a lot of his superior act is meant to try and fool himself and Jaden into thinking that he's a worthy rival, because I know for a fact that Manjoume doesn't believe that. He wants it to be true, yes.

What I am trying to get at is that Judai is probably a little confused by the fact that Manjoume doesn't drool all over him like the rest of the school does, but it soon becomes a crutch. Judai is under a lot of pressure because he is the hero who will save everyone and people like to remind him of how much they count on him. Manjoume is in it for Judai. He wants to be acknowledged by him, he wants his recognition and his attention, but he never asks for help or expects Judai to fix his problems for him. Judai is probably thankful for that.

Manjoume is also really scared of being left behind and cast aside as soon as he stops being useful and that's exactly what the writers do to him!!! hooray!, but Judai keeps insisting that he's not a bad guy, that he's fun to be around, that he's competent. Manjoume doesn't really believe all that that much, but Jaden keeps playing him despite his repeated losses and to Jun that's the equivalent of someone kissing his tears away. Manjoume only learns to accept his losses and shortcomings because Judai did it for him first.

So basically Manjoume is the only one who fully sees Judai as a person, while Judai is the only one who is really willing to look past his pretentious facade. I fully believe that Judai was relieved to learn that Manjoume was not just a perfect boy with perfect manners, by the way. They both just love to learn about every imperfection that the other has and silently thinking that they just add to the beauty of the other's character. Will they tease eachother about it? Fuck yes. Do they feel awful when the other tries to fix something about themselves because they pointed it out? Also fuck yes.

They are in a dumb competition against themselves to be better in order to earn the right to be friends with eachother, but because they are fucking dumb they never actually communicate (until they do), so for a long time it's endless pining that is definitely not gay because admittedly Judai just doesn't think that dating is a thing, while Manjoume is straight™, really straight. He has never liked a boy in his life, he's so very fucking straight, I swear.

So Manjoume is a bisexual disaster (and in my headcanon he prefers boys, actually, the Asuka incident is the biggest example of denial™ ever. He prefers Fubuki, fight me over this). The problem is that he never really considered he might be crushing on Judai, but at the same time admitting to maybe liking boys too means that there was more to wanting to stay at DA, to hanging out with Judai's crew despite their mutual dislike, to his continuous playful headlocks and ear pulling. To add onto that, there is probably a certain amount of guilt over having betrayed that bond with Judai by trying to throw away his cards and everything. Judai, on the other hand... is confused at how bothered he is by the public declarations of love, because Manjoume is his rival and rivals are supposed to focus on eachother, not on some girl, no matter how good said girl is at card games.

So maybe they are a bit gay for eachother. And maybe they just want excuses to be together as much as possible. And it's really just the vibe of highschool romance between two people who don't want to admit to caring for one another on a deeper level, but are also weirdly possessive of eachother for no apparent reason. And I think I'll stop here with my gay retelling, but really if you look at the two of them you do see that they do a lot for eachother's characters. It's kind of beautiful, really. They are the two socially inept characters who find comfort in someone being just like them and understanding them as they change and grow up.

I have a lot to say about how that changes once the transfer students come in, but I think I've bored everyone for long enough- as in nobody will read this lol. That's ok. I thank you again for the ask and for allowing me to gush about this ship that is so close to my heart. If anyone ever wants to talk about them, just. Do. Break into my house at night and I still won't mind, I just want to talk about them.